IYC in Brief
As the global platform for inclusive and sustainable youth development, International Youth Council (IYC) works in all United Nations (UN) members countries and territories to ensure young people's voices are heard, appreciated, and acted upon. We help countries and youth led organisations to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience by advocating inclusive and sustainable youth development to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our work is concentrated in six focus areas; Education, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Healthcare, Peace and Coexistence, and Infrastructure Development.
Our Vision
A world in which all nations provide a platform for inclusive and sustainable youth development
Our Mission
IYC aims to bring young people together from all walks of life, regardless of religion, color, or gender to speak up for the benefit of mankind. We foster an environment where young people's voices are heard, appreciated, and acted upon global platform for inclusive and sustainable youth development.
The UN Charter
The Charter of the United Nations was signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and came into force on 24 October 1945. Its purposes and principles are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations based on equal rights and self-determination, and to achieve international co-operation in solving economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian challenges without distinction for race, sex, language, or religion.
History
The IYC was started as a civil society organization which was founded at the 04th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations in 2007. The major objective of establishing IYC was to build a global forum and platform on which all young people can develop a unified voice and take collective action toward social, economic, and environmental progress acting as an organization capable of mobilizing leverage and change.
On the 12th of August 2007, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, young leaders across the UN member countries pledged as an “International Youth Council Declaration” to commit their efforts, energy, and talent to enact measurable and efficient interventions to eradicate poverty and improve the human condition.
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were the benchmark against the IYC Declaration is measured which generally lasts from 2007 to 2015. IYC upholds the core values of the Millennium Declaration of freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, and shared responsibility. The vision is to achieve these goals and once achieved, to continue fighting for the right of all people everywhere to a full and peaceful life.
The MDGs include
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Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
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Achieve universal primary education
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Promote gender equality and empower women
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Reduce child mortality
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Improve maternal health
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Combat HIV/ Aids, malaria, and other diseases
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Ensure environmental sustainability
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Global partnership for development.
Initially, the IYC was proposed to be only in the USA. Nonetheless, presently it has grown into a leading youth organization with over 22,000 members in 72 United Nations member countries including universities, private organizations, and youth councils. The members of the organization with more than 40 chapters of IYC that had been active, have carried out a wide range of projects on the ground, from gender equality to sustainable development, and have participated actively in significant international decision-making processes as a force within the system of United Nations’ mandates of MDGs and SDGs from 2015. Since 2022, the IYC has shifted its organizational model as an International Non-Governmental Organisation.